Joan H. Magee

Joan, age 92, peacefully passed away late June 23rd, 2014 at Sunrise Senior Living Center of Edmonds, WA, surrounded by her loving family.

Joan was born in Carbon County, MT, Jan 29th, 1922 to James A. Hunter and Myrtle Hunter (Goodwin). The family moved to Seattle in 1925. Joan graduated from West Seattle High School in 1940. Following a course of administrative and secretarial training, Joan was employed by the US Civil Service.

In 1943, while employed by the Army Corps of Engineers, she met and on Oct 24th 1944, married Neil Magee who was serving with the United States Merchant Marine during WW II. After the war Neil was employed by the Northern Pacific Railway as a stationmaster at the town of Lester Washington (now a ghost-town). In 1960 Joan and Neil moved to Seattle where Joan resumed her career with the federal government. They had purchased property in the Alki area of West Seattle. Neil preceded Joan in death in 1987.

Joan was a long time member of Alki Congregational Church and was active throughout her life in Church and community service, including tutoring English as a second language. Joan has always faced life with an open-heart and an open-door. She helped many families by fostering children in need and providing emergency housing. She was a light and an inspiration in her church and her community throughout her adult life.

In 2006, Joan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and moved to the Sunrise Senior Living Center in Edmonds Washington. She generously supported the Alzheimer’s Foundation and was a long-term active participant in the University of Washington’s Alzheimer’s research program. Her good cheer and sense of humor endeared her to everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

Joan is survived by daughter Peggy (Al Setzer) and son Daniel (Nancy Kazama) as well as four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Joan will be interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Seattle with her cherished husband Neil. There will be celebrations of Joan’s life at: Trinity Lutheran Church of Lynnwood, WA , July 10th 2014 at 1:00 PM and at Alki Congregational Church in West Seattle at 1:00 PM, July 12th 2014 .

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or Hospice would be appreciated.